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539 Best Short Story Ideas for Authors in 2026
Showing 539 short story ideas curated by Reedsy.
It's the first day of school, and you're finding it hard to make friends when someone unexpected steps up.
"BOO!" you yell, grabbing the shoulders of a person you think is your friend from behind. They turn around and it's a total stranger.
Write a story about a terrible, unfixable hair cut.
Write about a wish that you once made.
You're driving down a lonely road when you see a machine-looking object jet across the night sky.
Write a story that takes place over the course of a house party.
You're at your computer feeling heavy writer's block. Suddenly words start appearing on the screen.
You are an expert spy for the British government, trained to perfection. Your only weakness is that your background music alerts enemies to your presence.
Write a story that takes place entirely in the dark.
An office worker's favorite coffee mug has gone missing, and the obsessive search for the mug throughout the workplace turns into a dire and ridiculous odyssey.
Write about a time you broke a promise. What did it feel like? Why did you break it?
"He's been dead for ten years," said the little old lady, looking at you with concern.
Write a story where your character is at odds with a family tradition.
You volunteer to be the first human to test time travel, only going an hour forward in time. But when you leave the travel pod, all other humans are gone.
You're the world's best photographer. Your secret? You can freeze time.
Write a story in which a Christmas song plays an important role in the plot.
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